Medal Society of Ireland

Captain F. Jackson former officer of the 6th Royal Irish Fusiliers was washed overboard and drowned in the Bay of Biscay during a fierce storm. This gallant officer was on his way to Cario Egypt to take up an important teaching appointment. He was the son of the Rev. J Jackson D.D. Ballycastle where he was born. He joined the R.I.C. and was appointed Third Class District Inspector 15th September 1908, Second Class 3rd February 1910 and First Class 1st July 1919. When war broke out he joined 6th Battalion Princess Victoria Royal Irish Fusiliers, saw much service and was wounded at the Dardanelles. After the war he rejoined the R.I.C. and was for a number of years attached to the Depot Dublin and also in Galway. After disbandment of the R.I.C. Captain Jackson took up teaching for which he was eminently suitable.

Source

Irish Times 11^th October 1924

The Royal Hospital in Kilmainham was completed in 1684 by Sir William Robinson, official State Surveyor General for James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, as a home for retired soldiers and continued in that use for over 250 years. The ceremony of laying the first stone took place on the 29th April 1680 and was performed by the Duke of Ormond before a large assemblage of the nobility and principal officers of the army. The cost of the home for retired soldiers was roughly about £24,000, with accommodation for around 200 men. Within the boundaries of the Royal Hospital is the last resting place of many of the old soldiers, who passed away in Kilmainham. Over many years a large number of the headstones have been damaged for various reasons. Below is a list of graves with damaged or missing headstones. The dates of burials covered are from 1905 to 1930. This is first of a serial of articles on the Royal Hospital which will appear in the journal.

Notes.

Owen Donnelly was an out-pensioner of the hospital and was buried in the pensioners graveyard, today there is no marker on his grave. He was shot during the Easter Rebellion on the 27th April near Kilmainham. Employed at the A.O.S. Department at Islandbridge in the city. Donnelly was an old soldier having served in the army for 21 years. He leaves a family of seven children, who reside at 15 Allingham Buildings, South Summer Street.

In the 1911 Census Owen Donnelly a native of Co. Tyrone, states that he is 52 years old and is employed as a labourer in the army ordnance department. He resides at 7 Fountain Street, with his wife Elizabeth and six children.

In 1911 Francis McVeeney a widower resides at 5 Hospital Lane, Usher’s Quay in Dublin. In the census he is recorded as head of the family and he states that he is a hotel servant, but is out of employment. Also in the house is his two daughters Anne and Mary, along with her husband Gerald Stokes and two grandchildren.

Thomas Nealon was born in Limerick City and in the 1911 Census is recorded as being 71 years old. At that time he resides with his son James, his daughter-in-law Katherine and grandson Thomas at 28 Doris Street in Dublin.

The oldest tombstone in the graveyard at the Royal Hospital is that of Corporal William Proby, who died on 28th July 1700. He had been only admitted to Kilmainham seven weeks before his death.

John Tuck on the census of 1911 is recorded as an in-pensioner at the hospital, aged 66 years and a widower. He was born in Queen’s Co (Co Laois).

References.

1911 Census, Evening Herald, The Story of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.

Major James William Henry Cusack D.L. J.P. late 87^th Royal Irish Fusiliers, of Abbeyville House Malahide Dublin ,who died on 26^th July 1929, left personal estate’s in England and the Irish Free State valued at 16,071-4-0. Probate of the will dated 10^th June 1926 has been granted to the surviving executric his niece Miss Elizabeth Violet Cusack of the same address. The Testator left 100 to his niece Elizabeth Violet Cusack and the residue of his property to his wife. 

Source

Irish Times 20^th December 1929